Hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) is popular among users for its potential therapeutic uses like anti-inflammatory effect, analgesic effect, anxiolytic effect, and neuroprotective effect. Besides, it is popular among recreational users because ingesting or smoking its vapors can relieve stress, anxiety and makes you relaxed. Due to this, health and wellness product manufacturers are using it as an active ingredient in their products. It is used for making edibles, beverages, health supplements, topical products, etc. In this article, we will discuss in detail cooking with CBD; read ahead to know more about this.
Cooking With CBD
One of the main CBD uses is cooking because cannabidiol is an oil-soluble cannabinoid. This makes it an ideal ingredient that can be added to a wide variety of dishes. For instance, it can be infused with lipid-rich ingredients like coconut oil, olive oil, or butter. Likewise, it can be added to sauces, salad dressings, and marinades. It can also be added to baked goods like cakes, brownies, and beverages like tea, coffee, and cocktails.
Points To Remember When Cooking With CBD
Decarboxylation
To enjoy the health benefits of cannabinoids like cannabidiol (CBD), you must decarboxylate hemp plant parts like flowers, buds, and leaves. This means that you must heat them to convert the raw form of cannabidiol, cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) into CBD. By doing this, the carboxyl group in the molecule of CBDA is removed. When compared to CBDA, CBD is more easily available for the body. To decarboxylate hemp flowers, grind the raw flower, place it on a baking tray, and bake it in a preheated oven for about 1 hour.
Grind The Bud Or Flower To The Right Consistency
Grind hemp flowers or buds into small pieces as this is the ideal consistency. This gives subtle color, taste, and texture when you add them to dishes like sauces, butter, and dressings. However, if you grind them into a paste, the taste of hemp will dominate the dish into which you are adding it.
Timing
Making CBD oil and butter is a time-consuming process, and this requires patience. You must add grounded hemp flowers into oil or butter and let the mixture simmer at a temperature between 160° – 200° C. This infusion must remain at this temperature for at least 3 hours so that the cannabinoids contained in the hemp plant parts completely seep into the oil or butter. Also, the heat converts all the CBDA into CBD. Finally, you must carefully filter out the plant material to get clear CBD butter or oil.
We hope that the details shared above clarified your doubts about cooking with cannabidiol (CBD).